Old Scioto Downs Days

[Bitter Truth]

Saw alot of great ones go thru there. Ramblng Willie a bunch. Open horses like Sovereign Warrior, Playboy Hanover , Bullet Bluecrest, Little Startrick, Great Mare Courtney J.  Driving colony, Terry Holton, Lloyd Dillon, Marc Ferguson, Jim Pollock, Jim Parkinson, Phil Seibold, Joe Adamsky, Dave Rankin, Brad Farrington, Bill Fahy, Purple Jesus Jeff Fout,... Saw Nero, Silk Stockings, Warm Breeze, Jambooger..Riegle s often ruled. Couldn't remember em all. Wonder if anyone else remembers. Used to pack em in on weekends..Had to cash in one line,[often the $2 combo line cashed all types] bet in another..Kept you steppin. Ran the bets for me and my dad when in my teens.Still had the same tile up all around the place from the 60's and 70's  till recently when they tore the old structure down. Had become a real dump. Not actually too bad now.

[Miguel_Sanchez]

That brings back memories.  A lot of the greats got there start at old Scioto Downs.  Riegle definitely had too many to list.  Can't forget the big three Artsplace, Western Hanover, & Life Sign

[Bitter Truth]

Thx for chiming in..Was kinda thinkin older days but so true about Riegle. Bruce could drive a little..Alan a total anchor. , Sholty, Garnsey would bring the young ones thru...One old Inviter I forgot was Big Kahuna. I believe there was a World Record triple dead heat .. Firecracker Free-for-all $20k [big$ back then]

[Bitter Truth]

Billy Walters [sugar Valley Farm ] Had Honey Cane [youngest to drive in Jug with him], Sugar Beats, Saccharine, Hold Your Breath, among others. You always leave out stuff when trying to list.

[Bitter Truth]

Hate it when people have all the posts on a topic but here I am..lol Thought of some more. Couldn't believe I failed to mention Sam [Chip] Noble [My Dad's fave] Had a slew of those 'Moonlight' horses like Ace and Saint.  His best horse was probably Nobleland Sam ..raced in NAC I believe , pretty decent sire too. Led the nation in driving % a year or two. Sammie was not afraid to burn one up just to prove a point. That was back before there was a hole for every leaver. Earl Purcell is another obscure driver I strangely recall. Billy Walters also had Weather, Beeeeyoouuuuu, and my personal favorite, LeCirque... A couple other top horses: Falcon Almuhurst [Battled Abercrombie in Jug, I believe] and How bout Star Celtic? I think he was driven by a guy named Al Johnson.

[Meadow Ford]

I spent the hottest six weeks of my life at Scioto Downs.
6000 High Street I think.
Rubbing claimers with Ora Straton.
1968 I think.
Sonny Dancer shipped in Gee Lee Hanover for a stakes race.
One horse one groom.
Brand new, tac trunk, jog cart, race bike all with canvas covers.
New Stainless steel feed tub, fancy painted water pail, fork, broom, and rake.
I said "someday that is going to be me".
That winter I went to Pompano and started working for a Grand Circuit stable. The next summer I was on the road with one Grand Circuit horse.
An experience every horseman should have.
Free, white, early twenties, and seeing the country from the back of a nine horse van.
Damn that was fun!

[Meadow Ford]

The horses Ora and I rubbed were owned by Ken Richardson of Success Acres. Marc Ferguson and Erv Samples did the driving. We referred to Samples as "Grog" the cartoon caracter.

[old guy]

I spent the hottest six weeks of my life at Scioto Downs.
6000 High Street I think.
Rubbing claimers with Ora Straton.
1968 I think.
Sonny Dancer shipped in Gee Lee Hanover for a stakes race.
One horse one groom.
Brand new, tac trunk, jog cart, race bike all with canvas covers.
New Stainless steel feed tub, fancy painted water pail, fork, broom, and rake.
I said "someday that is going to be me".
That winter I went to Pompano and started working for a Grand Circuit stable. The next summer I was on the road with one Grand Circuit horse.
An experience every horseman should have.
Free, white, early twenties, and seeing the country from the back of a nine horse van.
Damn that was fun!

[old guy]

I spent the hottest six weeks of my life at Scioto Downs.
6000 High Street I think.
Rubbing claimers with Ora Straton.
1968 I think.
Sonny Dancer shipped in Gee Lee Hanover for a stakes race.
One horse one groom.
Brand new, tac trunk, jog cart, race bike all with canvas covers.
New Stainless steel feed tub, fancy painted water pail, fork, broom, and rake.
I said "someday that is going to be me".

Ora worked for me at Roosevelt way back. Good man.
That winter I went to Pompano and started working for a Grand Circuit stable. The next summer I was on the road with one Grand Circuit horse.
An experience every horseman should have.
Free, white, early twenties, and seeing the country from the back of a nine horse van.
Damn that was fun!

[old guy]

I spent the hottest six weeks of my life at Scioto Downs.
6000 High Street I think.
Rubbing claimers with Ora Straton.
1968 I think.
Sonny Dancer shipped in Gee Lee Hanover for a stakes race.
One horse one groom.
Brand new, tac trunk, jog cart, race bike all with canvas covers.
New Stainless steel feed tub, fancy painted water pail, fork, broom, and rake.
I said "someday that is going to be me".

I think Gee Lee won the Fox that year.

That winter I went to Pompano and started working for a Grand Circuit stable. The next summer I was on the road with one Grand Circuit horse.
An experience every horseman should have.
Free, white, early twenties, and seeing the country from the back of a nine horse van.
Damn that was fun!

[Bitter Truth]

Riveting contribution there Old Guy. Meds under control?

[Bitter Truth]

Not a big player but the name Dick Neff certainly rung a bell when I saw he passed..certainly fits this topic. 95 yrs old..Must have lived a pretty full life. May he Rest In Peace.

[Miguel_Sanchez]

Remember old Mike Tomar and Bolyard?  What a mean SOB he was.  They loaded him every week with a pitchfork.  I can't remember his last name but it was Earl something?  Had That's Adam.  Had some really nice horses that were ill bred but they could go. 

[Mailbox Money]

Can't forget about the degenerit gambler Art Schliester sending his bets in from the parking lot! 

[Bitter Truth]

 Used to see Pete Rose alot right down the road at Buelah Park. I believe he placed a bet or two himself.